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Brian Conley quit I'm A Celebrity over health problems

By OK! Online Reporter

Friday 23 Nov 2012

The comedian exited the Australian jungle-based survival programme on Monday (19Nov12) after breaking down in tears following bizarre interactions with his campmates. He was hospitalised after the walk-out and he has now finally revealed that he was pulled from the show by TV bosses after he stopped taking his medication.

Conley, who has battled depression and a drinking problem in the past, claims bosses at ITV, the network behind the show, insisted he sign a contract agreeing to take his pills and if he did not comply with their regulations, he would not be allowed to take part.

The star failed to take his tablets and was subsequently removed from the programme.

He tells Lorraine Kelly, "They (the show's bosses) said if I did not comply with these regulations then I would not be on the show. Now this is under extreme circumstances and I started to feel really bad because in the end, very shortly, after that I had to leave and I had an examination and they found out I had malnutrition and I was suffering from exhaustion...

"(I was) lying in hospital being heavily sedated with a saline drip... all because of a lovely show... I can tell you it's tough, I can tell you it's not fluffy out there - it's the real world and it's tough, it's really tough.

"It was bad, I felt bad because it was out of my control. It was their (TV bosses') decision. I couldn't lie to them. I'm an honest guy. I couldn't go 'Yes I've taken my tablets (of) course I have'... I could have... just gone in the dunny (toilet) and just dropped it down it. I've taken this tablet for 15 years...

"Ever since I've left I've not taken the tablets... I feel very proud that I got through it and it actually made me a much stronger man and you're looking at someone who doesn't need anti-depressants and I realise that now."

Former Pussycat Dolls singer Ashley Roberts, boxer David Haye, and Colin Baker are among the celebrity contestants who will continue battling for survival in the jungle on this year's (12) show.